Parking assistance system

ABSTRACT

A parking system for a vehicle provides a self-contained vehicle lift with jacks on wheels and mounted on a vehicle frame, wherein the jacks are operable between a retracted position permitting the vehicle to move in a normal fashion, and an extended position effective to raise the entire vehicle off the ground to allow the wheels move the vehicle into the parking position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for assisting a vehicleoperator to correctly parallel-park a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parallel parking is a method of parking a vehicle in line with otherparked cars. Cars parked in parallel are in one line, parallel to thecurb, with the front bumper of each car facing the back bumper of anadjacent one. Since parallel parking is parallel to the curb of a road,roads that facilitate said parking have an extra lane or a largeshoulder for parked cars. It is also employed anytime perpendicularparking facilities are not available or hard to come by commonly, that'sin large metropolitan areas where there is a high density of vehiclesand few (or restricted) accommodations such as parking garages.

Parallel parking is considered by many to be one of the hardest skillsfor new drivers to learn. Following are the typical steps for performinga parallel parking:

-   -   Signal into the space.    -   Ensure that the desired parking space is about 2 meters longer        than the vehicle's length.    -   Line up the vehicle beside the vehicle in front of the parking        space.    -   Turn the steering wheel one turn towards the curb and put the        vehicle into reverse.    -   Back up the vehicle so that the rear bumper is first to enter        the parking space.    -   Once the vehicle is at a certain angle such as 45° to the        parking spot, slow down and turn the steering wheel all the way,        to the road side.    -   Continue backing up until the vehicle is parallel with the curb.    -   Gradually turn the steering wheel towards the curb to curve the        vehicle into a straight position.    -   Brake once the vehicle occupies the middle of the parking space.    -   Make sure that the vehicle is not parked too far from the curb.

Recognizing the problem of performing an accurate parallel parking car,manufacturers are trying to automate the parking process. For example,one car manufacturer recently disclosed an automated parking system.This system relies on a built-in computer, steering sensor and a tinycamera in the car's rear to park itself in a user specified regionchosen with the arrows.

SUMMARY

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed in, and will be apparent from, the following DetailedDescription of the Invention and the figures.

In one aspect, a parking solution includes a jack coupled to a strut inthe frame of a vehicle, the jack including a wheel for positioning thevehicle. Each jack has a jack wheel and mounted to a vehicle frame,wherein the jacks are operable between a retracted position permittingthe vehicle to move in a normal fashion, and an extended positioneffective to raise the entire vehicle off the ground to allow the wheelsmove the vehicle into the parking position.

In another aspect, the parking system for the vehicle thus includes avehicle lift with jacks each having a jack wheel and mounted to avehicle frame, wherein the jacks are operable between a retractedposition permitting the vehicle to move in a normal fashion, and anextended position effective to raise the entire vehicle off the groundto allow the wheels move the vehicle into the parking position, whereinthe jack wheels can be locked to move only in predetermined direction,and automatic means for locking the jack's wheel in its extendedposition. The system includes a curb sensor to detect car positionrelative to a curb; a jack motor to drive the jack from the retractedposition to the extended position; a jack wheel motor to drive the jackwheel to park the vehicle adjacent the curb; and a processor receivingthe car position from the curb sensor, the processor controlling thejack motor to move the jack to the extended position, the processorfurther controlling the jack wheel motor to drive the jack wheel andpark the vehicle. In one implementation, the jack is secured to a frameof the vehicle or a vehicle axle. In another implementation, the jack isan add-on kit for the vehicle or fabricated as an integrated unit of avehicle.

Advantages of the preferred embodiment may include one or more of thefollowing. The system provides a parking solution for a motor vehiclethat allows the motorist to park a vehicle in a tight parking area, adangerous area or during inclement weather in an easy and efficientmanner. For repair shops, the solution can position a vehicle in a waythat eliminates the need for cumbersome, difficult-to-use standard autojacks. The system completely eliminates the messy process of manuallyjacking up a motor vehicle. The automatic parking system for a motorvehicle allows an elderly or handicapped individual to park the motorvehicle with ease. The system has non-parking uses as well, for example,it can be used as a jacking system for a motor vehicle that allows theindividual to quickly and safely raise and lower the motor vehiclethereby facilitating the efficient process of changing a vehicle tire.The system can be automated so that a user can automatically raise thevehicle from a dashboard mounted control panel. The control can also beon the steering wheel, or alternatively in any suitable spot in thevehicle such as the door, the seat, the roof, among others. The parkingassistance system can be safely operated by non-technical drivers, andthe jacking units are of relatively compact size thereby avoiding theneed for expensive and troublesome pivoting support assemblies. Thedriver can also use the system to perform a U-turn in a very tight spotto get out of a grid-lock or a parking lot if needed. The system canpark the vehicle in very tight spots, thus allowing more parking spotsto be available for parking purposes in the same parking lot.

The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more importantfeatures of the present invention in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, ofcourse, additional features of the invention that will be describedhereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claimsappended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment ofthe invention in detail, as required by statute, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein are for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying outthe several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms of phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to definethe invention of the application, which only is measured by the claims,nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention inany way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained hereinbelow withreference to accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of an exemplary parking assistance unit witha parking system deployed.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show top and side views of an exemplary parkingassistance unit with a parking system in a retracted position for normaldriving.

FIGS. 3-4 show side views of the exemplary parking assistance in aretracted position (FIG. 3) and an expanded position (FIG. 4) using anexpander 30.

FIGS. 5A-5B show operation of an exemplary jack or expander 30.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of an add-on or aftermarket version of thesystem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a view of the parking system with a motor and a sensor todetermine proximity to a curb.

FIG. 8 shows a corresponding top view of the motor mounted on theparking system.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11A-11C illustrate the operation of the expander on avehicle axle.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary computer controlled parking assistancesystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 show an exemplary parking assistance unit 10 mountable to avehicle frame. The parking assistance unit can also be mounted to avehicle axle as shown in FIG. 11A-11C. The parking system 10 can beintegral as manufactured by a car manufacturer, and the system 10 canalso be an add-on or after-market accessory as shown in FIG. 6.

Turning now to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the parking system 10 isintegral to a vehicle with a vehicle frame 14. The parking system 10includes a two piece control arm 12/22 which includes an outer portion22 coupled to the frame 14, the outer portion 22 having a control armwheel receptacle 31. The second half of the control arm is an innerportion 12 hingeably connected to the frame 14. One embodiment, theinner portion 12 is hingeably connected to the outer portion 22 at theframe 14. The inner portion 12 can be used alone as an add-on orafter-market accessory. The inner portion 12 has a control arm wheel 16at a distal end, and the control arm wheel 16 is adapted to be stored inthe wheel receptacle 31 when not used. Upon actuation during parking,the control arm wheel 16 is moved or actuated to contact the ground byan actuator 19 which is connected to the inner portion 12 to extend ajack 30 and move the control arm wheel 16 from the receptacle to theground to raise the vehicle off the ground. A wheel motor 17 can beactuated to drive the wheel 16 and move the vehicle into a parkingposition.

In one embodiment, the wheels are lockable so that the parkingassistance unit can only move laterally (or sideways) toward the curbfor parking purposes. Should the user desire to move the car forward orbackward, the wheels 16 are then unlocked. The unit 10 can also securedto the axle instead of the A-frame as shown in FIG. 11A-11C.

A rotatable jack or expander 30 pushes the lower portion 12 toward theground until the wheels 16 contact the ground and lift the vehicle offthe ground so that it can be easily positioned into a parking position.One embodiment of the expander 30 can be screw operated to move from aflat position into an expanded position. The expander 30 preferably ismotorized with motor 19 for automated control, but can also be manuallyoperated.

One embodiment requires the car to be parked before the system can workfor safety reasons. When deployed during parking, the wheels 16 areextended to contact the ground and lift the vehicle above ground to movethe vehicle into the correct position prior to laterally moving thevehicle into the available parking spot. Once the correct position isachieved, the wheels 16 are locked to allow only lateral movement andthe car can be actuated with a motor or manually pushed into the parkingposition. In this manner, the car can be parked in tight spaces. Asshown in FIG. 6, the embodiment of FIG. 1 can have curvilinear armsinstead of straight arms 12.

FIG. 2A shows a top view of the unit of FIG. 1, while FIG. 2B shows aside view of an exemplary parking assistance unit with a parking systemin a retracted position for normal driving. In use, a driver willposition the car near the parking space and line up his/her vehicleadjacent yet behind the vehicle in front of the parking space (on theside away from the curb). Once the vehicle is ready to be pushed towardthe curb, the driver parks the vehicle and actuates the parkingassistance unit to extend the four wheels toward the pavement andeventually lifting the vehicle above the pavement. The system will thenlock the wheels of the parking assistance unit so that the unit can onlymove sideways toward the curb. Next, the system will actuate the motorin the parking assistance to move sideways into the parking space untilthe edges of the tires are proximal to or adjacent to the curb.

As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the parking assistance unit is secured to theframe of the vehicle or, alternatively, can be secured to a vehicle axle(FIGS. 11A-11C). The jack can be an add-on kit for the vehicle (FIG. 6)or fabricated as an integrated unit of a new vehicle.

FIGS. 3-4 show a bottom view of an exemplary parking assistance unitmounted below the frame of a car in a retracted position (FIG. 3) and anextended position (FIG. 4) using the jack or expander 30 as driven bymotor 19. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a shock absorber 42positioned around a support rod or strut 44, which in turn is coupled tothe jack or expander 30 of the parking assistance unit. FIG. 4 shows theexpanded position where wheel 16 contacts the ground and lifts the carup using the jack or expander 30.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the jack or expander 30 pushes the lowerportion 10 toward the ground until the wheels 16 contact the ground andlifts the vehicle off the ground so that it can be easily positionedinto a parking position. FIGS. 5A-5B show one embodiment of an expander30 which can be motorized (such as motor 19 of FIGS. 7-8), pneumatic, orscrew operated to move from a flat position into an expanded position.While a motor discussed for jack activation, the jack 30 can also bemoved by an inflatable balloon or suitable hydraulic actuators. The jackor expander 30 can also be manually operated.

In one embodiment, the jack includes a main cylinder having a slidablepiston disposed therein; a locking solenoid mounted to each jack forlocking the jack in place after the jack has been disposed to the useposition for raising the automotive vehicle adjacent that respectivewheel; a plurality of secondary solenoids with each secondary solenoidmounted to the frame underside adjacent each jack to assist incontrolling the extension of each jack to the use position and theretraction of each jack to the folded, storage position; a hydraulicsystem for supplying hydraulic fluid to the main cylinders of the jacksafter each respective jack has been disposed to the use position so thatthe jacks can actuate the raising and lowering of the automotivevehicle; the hydraulic system including a fluid reservoir incommunication with an electric pump and hydraulic lines extending fromthe pump and reservoir to each jack; a plurality of leak detectionsensors with each leak detection sensor coupled to each jack fordetecting the occurrence of a hydraulic fluid leak associated with thatrespective jack and in the hydraulic system.

In another embodiment, the actuator 19 can be linear motor having aslidable piston disposed therein and disposed to the use position forraising the automotive vehicle adjacent that respective wheel. Thesystem can include a plurality of secondary solenoids with eachsecondary solenoid mounted to the wheel to specify a predetermineddirection of wheel movement.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of FIGS. 3-4 with curvilinear arms 12instead of straight arms 12. The embodiment of FIG. 6 can be sold as anafter-market accessory to update a vehicle to provide parkingcapability.

FIGS. 7-12 show additional views of an exemplary parking system withcomputer control of actuators to park a vehicle. FIG. 7 shows a bottomview of the parking system with jack motor 19, wheel motor 17 and asuitable sensor to determine proximity to a curb, while FIG. 8 shows acorresponding top view of the parking system of FIG. 7.

The system of FIGS. 9-10 includes a vehicle lift with jacks 30 eachhaving a wheel 16 and mounted to a vehicle axle, wherein the jacks areoperable between a retracted position (FIG. 9) permitting the vehicle tomove in a normal fashion, and an extended position (FIG. 10) effectiveto raise the entire vehicle off the ground to allow the wheels move thevehicle into the parking position. The wheel 16 can be locked to moveonly in predetermined direction, and automatic means with a processorand motor for locking the jack's wheel in its extended position. Thesystem includes a curb sensor 17 to detect car position relative to acurb 300. The motor 19 is provided to drive the jack 30 from theretracted position to the extended position, and a jack wheel motor 17is used to drive the jack wheel to park the vehicle adjacent the curb.The system includes a processor 200 (FIG. 12) receiving the car positionfrom the curb sensor, the processor controlling the jack motor to movethe jack to the extended position, the processor further controlling thejack wheel motor to drive the jack wheel and park the vehicle.

FIG. 11A shows an exemplary system operable with a vehicle axle 21,while FIGS. 11B-11C show in more details in the embodiment of FIG. 11A.As shown therein, the units can be bolted onto the vehicle axle with aU-bolt. Further, as shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C, the vehicle axle 21 isconnected to vehicle wheels 40. A control arms 10/20 have a first endwith a control arm wheel 16 and a second end 23 securely mounted to theaxle 21 using suitable U-bolts in one embodiment. In this embodiment,the control arm wheel 16 is driven by a motor 17 (FIG. 11B). An actuator19 is connected to the axle 21 and the control arms 10/20. The actuator19 can be a motor that drives the control arm wheel 16 between aretracted position permitting the vehicle to be driven, and an extendedposition where the wheel 16 contacts the ground to raise the vehiclewheel 40 off the ground to allow the control arm wheel 16 to move thevehicle into a parking position.

While two motorized wheels 16 can be used in one embodiment, fourmotorized wheels 16 preferably contact the ground to move the vehicle.The parking system for the vehicle thus includes a vehicle lift withjacks each having a jack wheel and mounted to a vehicle frame, whereinthe jacks are operable between a retracted position permitting thevehicle to move in a normal fashion, and an extended position effectiveto raise the entire vehicle off the ground to allow the wheels move thevehicle into the parking position, wherein the jack wheels can be lockedto move only in predetermined direction, and automatic means for lockingthe jack's wheel in its extended position. The system includes a curbsensor to detect car position relative to a curb; a jack motor to drivethe jack from the retracted position to the extended position; a jackwheel motor to drive the jack wheel to park the vehicle adjacent thecurb; and a processor receiving the car position from the curb sensor,the processor controlling the jack motor to move the jack to theextended position, the processor further controlling the jack wheelmotor to drive the jack wheel and park the vehicle. In oneimplementation, the jack is secured to an A-frame of the vehicle or avehicle axle. In another implementation, the jack is an add-on kit forthe vehicle or fabricated as an integrated unit of a vehicle.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary computer controlled car parking processingsystem. The system includes a CPU 200 receiving data from ROM 202 andRAM 204. The CPU 200 controls a jack actuator 210 that drives the jackexpander 30. The CPU 200 also controls a jack wheel actuator 220 thatrotates the jack wheel 16. The CPU 200 detects vehicle position relativeto a curb 300 using a curb sensor 230 and positions the car so that thetire 40 is positioned adjacent the curb 300 when parking is completed.In and Out buttons are provided on a steering wheel so that a driver canpark the vehicle with ease. In one embodiment, when the driver pushesthe in button, the vehicle automatically detects the curb and moves thevehicle toward the curb, and when the Out button is pushed, the vehiclemoves away from the curb and ready for driving. In another embodiment,sensors on the rear wheels and front wheels detect the total spaceavailable for parking. If there is insufficient space, the processor 200would reject a parking command. If there is sufficient space, theprocessor determines the available inter-vehicle distance and parks thevehicle to provide an even distance between the vehicle and other parkedvehicles in the front and rear of the vehicle. In one embodiment, theuser can override the processor 200 and manually park the car using theIn/Out buttons.

The curb sensor 230 can be a proximity sensor which can detect thepresence of nearby objects with or without any physical contact. Contactsensor can be a touch switch that is closed when the tire 40 is proximalto the curb 300. Alternatively, a non-contact proximity sensor oftenemits an electromagnetic field or a beam of electromagnetic radiation(infrared, for instance), and looks for changes in the field or returnsignal. The object being sensed is often referred to as the proximitysensor's target. Different proximity sensor targets demand differentsensors. For example, a capacitive or photoelectric sensor might besuitable for a plastic target; an inductive proximity sensor requires ametal target in the curb. The sensor can be based on capacitive,capacitive displacement, Doppler effect (sensor based on effect),Eddy-current, inductive, laser rangefinder, magnetic, including Magneticproximity fuse, passive optical (such as charge-coupled devices),passive thermal infrared, photocell (reflective), radar, reflection ofionising radiation, sonar (typically active or passive), ultrasonicsensor (sonar which runs in air), fiber optics sensor, or Hall effectsensor, among others.

The curb sensor 230 can be a proximity sensor which can detect thepresence of nearby objects with or without any physical contact. Contactsensor can be a touch switch that is closed when the tire 40 touches thecurb 300. Alternatively, a non-contact proximity sensor often emits anelectromagnetic field or a beam of electromagnetic radiation (infrared,for instance), and looks for changes in the field or return signal. Theobject being sensed is often referred to as the proximity sensor'starget. Different proximity sensor targets demand different sensors. Forexample, a capacitive or photoelectric sensor might be suitable for aplastic target; an inductive proximity sensor requires a metal target inthe curb. The sensor can be based on capacitive, capacitivedisplacement, Doppler effect (sensor based on effect), Eddy-current,inductive, laser rangefinder, magnetic, including Magnetic proximityfuse, passive optical (such as charge-coupled devices), passive thermalinfrared, photocell (reflective), radar, reflection of ionisingradiation, sonar (typically active or passive), ultrasonic sensor (sonarwhich runs in air), fiber optics sensor, or Hall effect sensor, amongothers.

To provide automatic parking, the processor can be connected to a curbsensor to detect car position relative to a curb. The curb sensorcomprises a proximity sensor, a sound-based sensor, a sonar, or alight-based sensor. In one embodiment with the curb sensor to detect carposition relative to a curb, the system provides a jack motor to drivethe jack from the retracted position to the extended position; a jackwheel motor to drive the jack wheel to park the vehicle adjacent thecurb; and a processor receiving the car position from the curb sensor,the processor controlling the jack motor to move the jack to theextended position, the processor further controlling the jack wheelmotor to drive the jack wheel and park the vehicle. FIG. 3 shows theparking assistance unit mounted to a vehicle frame with a shock absorber44 mounted on a shaft 42 that in turn seats on a drive train assemblysupported by one or more tires 40. During travel, the parking assistanceunit is secured to the car with the jack wheels in a retracted positionas shown in FIG. 2. The jack wheel 16 can be locked to move only inpredetermined direction, and automatic means with a processor and motorfor locking the jack's wheel in its extended position. The systemincludes a curb sensor 230 to detect car position relative to a curb300. A jack motor is provided to drive the jack from the retractedposition to the extended position, and a jack wheel motor is used todrive the jack wheel to park the vehicle adjacent the curb. The systemincludes a processor 200 (FIG. 14) receiving the car position from thecurb sensor, the processor controlling the jack motor to move the jackto the extended position, the processor further controlling the jackwheel motor to drive the jack wheel and park the vehicle into theparking position.

The parking system for the vehicle thus includes a vehicle lift withjacks each having a jack wheel and mounted to a vehicle frame, whereinthe jacks are operable between a retracted position permitting thevehicle to move in a normal fashion, and an extended position effectiveto raise the entire vehicle off the ground to allow the wheels move thevehicle into the parking position, wherein the jack wheels can be lockedto move only in predetermined direction, and automatic means for lockingthe jack's wheel in its extended position. The system includes a curbsensor to detect car position relative to a curb; a jack motor to drivethe jack from the retracted position to the extended position; a jackwheel motor to drive the jack wheel to park the vehicle adjacent thecurb; and a processor receiving the car position from the curb sensor,the processor controlling the jack motor to move the jack to theextended position, the processor further controlling the jack wheelmotor to drive the jack wheel and park the vehicle. In oneimplementation, the jack is secured to an A-frame of the vehicle or avehicle axle. In another implementation, the jack is an add-on kit forthe vehicle or fabricated as an integrated unit of a vehicle.

In one embodiment, the expander 30 can be motorized or can use ahydraulic system for supplying hydraulic fluid to the main cylinders ofthe jacks after each respective jack has been disposed to the useposition so that the jacks can actuate the raising and lowering of theautomotive vehicle. The hydraulic system including a fluid reservoir incommunication with an electric pump and hydraulic lines extending fromthe pump and reservoir to each jack; a plurality of leak detectionsensors with each leak detection sensor coupled to each jack fordetecting the occurrence of a hydraulic fluid leak associated with thatrespective jack and in the hydraulic system; a control panelelectrically interconnected to the jacks, the locking solenoids, thesecondary solenoids, the electric pump and the leak detection sensorsand having an electrical cord of a length to allow an individual to moveabout the automotive vehicle to monitor the operation of the jacksduring the raising and lowering of the automotive vehicle; and a controlpanel including four control switches with each control switch coupledto each jack for controlling the disposition of the jacks from thefolded position to the use position, an up/down switch for initiatingthe extension and retraction of the piston for raising and lowering theautomotive vehicle, and a locking switch for actuation of the lockingsolenoid to lock the jack in place after the extension of the piston toraise the automotive vehicle.

The system may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or acombination of the three. Preferably the invention is implemented in acomputer program executed on a programmable computer having a processor,a data storage system, volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storageelements, at least one input device and at least one output device.

The computer preferably includes a processor, random access memory(RAM), a program memory (preferably a writable read-only memory (ROM)such as a flash ROM) and an input/output (I/O) controller coupled by aCPU bus. The computer may optionally include a hard drive controllerwhich is coupled to a hard disk and CPU bus. Hard disk may be used forstoring application programs, such as the present invention, and data.Alternatively, application programs may be stored in RAM or ROM. I/Ocontroller is coupled by means of an I/O bus to an I/O interface. I/Ointerface receives and transmits data in analog or digital form overcommunication links such as a serial link, local area network, wirelesslink, and parallel link. Optionally, a display, a keyboard and apointing device (mouse) may also be connected to I/O bus. Alternatively,separate connections (separate buses) may be used for I/O interface,display, keyboard and pointing device. Programmable processing systemmay be preprogrammed or it may be programmed (and reprogrammed) bydownloading a program from another source (e.g., a floppy disk, CD-ROM,or another computer).

Each computer program is tangibly stored in a machine-readable storagemedia or device (e.g., program memory or magnetic disk) readable by ageneral or special purpose programmable computer, for configuring andcontrolling operation of a computer when the storage media or device isread by the computer to perform the procedures described herein. Theinventive system may also be considered to be embodied in acomputer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program,where the storage medium so configured causes a computer to operate in aspecific and predefined manner to perform the functions describedherein.

The invention has been described herein in considerable detail in orderto comply with the patent Statutes and to provide those skilled in theart with the information needed to apply the novel principles and toconstruct and use such specialized components as are required. However,it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out byspecifically different equipment and devices, and that variousmodifications, both as to the equipment details and operatingprocedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of theinvention itself. For the convenience of the reader, the abovedescription has focused on a representative sample of all possibleembodiments, a sample that teaches the principles of the invention andconveys the best mode contemplated for carrying it out. The descriptionhas not attempted to exhaustively enumerate all possible variations. Forexample, although the parking indicator is shown in the figures as beinginstalled on a car, it should be understood that the parking indicatormay also be installed on a truck or a bus in the manner described above.Other undescribed variations or modifications may also be possible. Forexample, where multiple alternative embodiments are described, in manycases it will be possible to combine elements of different embodiments,or to combine elements of the embodiments described here with othermodifications or variations that are not expressly described.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that numerous modifications,variations, and alterations are both possible and practicable by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A parking system for a vehicle, comprising: ajack having a two piece control arm including: an outer portion coupledto a vehicle frame, the outer portion having a control arm wheelreceptacle; and an inner portion hingeably coupled to the frame, theinner portion having a control arm wheel at a distal end, the controlarm wheel adapted to be stored in the control arm wheel receptacle andupon actuation, the control arm wheel being moveable toward the ground;and an actuator coupled to the inner portion to move the control armwheel from the control arm wheel receptacle to the ground to raise thevehicle off the ground and move the vehicle into a parking position. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the control arm wheel is locked to moveonly in predetermined direction, and automatic means for locking thewheel in its extended position.
 3. The system of claim 1, comprisingwherein the actuator comprises manual spring load, electrical motor,inflatable balloon, or hydraulic jacks.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the control arm is mounted to the vehicle frame underside of anautomotive vehicle adjacent the vehicle's wheels.
 5. The system of claim1, wherein the actuator includes a linear motor having a slidable pistondisposed therein and disposed to the use position for raising theautomotive vehicle adjacent that respective wheel.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, comprising a plurality of secondary solenoids with eachsecondary solenoid mounted to the wheel to specify a predetermineddirection of wheel movement.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the jackincludes a main cylinder having a slidable piston disposed therein; alocking solenoid mounted to each jack for locking the jack in placeafter the jack has been disposed to the use position for raising theautomotive vehicle adjacent that respective wheel; a plurality ofsecondary solenoids with each secondary solenoid mounted to the frameunderside adjacent each jack to assist in controlling the extension ofeach jack to the use position and the retraction of each jack to thefolded, storage position; a hydraulic system for supplying hydraulicfluid to the main cylinders of the jacks after each respective jack hasbeen disposed to the use position so that the jacks can actuate theraising and lowering of the automotive vehicle; the hydraulic systemincluding a fluid reservoir in communication with an electric pump andhydraulic lines extending from the pump and reservoir to each jack; aplurality of leak detection sensors with each leak detection sensorcoupled to each jack for detecting the occurrence of a hydraulic fluidleak associated with that respective jack and in the hydraulic system.8. The system of claim 7, comprising a steering wheel with a pluralityof buttons to control vehicular parking.
 9. The system of claim 1,comprising a curb proximity sensor and a plurality vehicle proximitysensors to detect vehicles in front of and behind the vehicle.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, comprising a dashboard mounted control panel toautomatically raise the vehicle for parking.
 11. The system of claim 1,comprising computer readable medium to determine a distance between afront parked car and a rear parked car and park the vehicle in between.12. The system of claim 1, wherein the jack is an add-on kit for thevehicle or fabricated as an integrated unit of a vehicle.
 13. The systemof claim 1, comprising a processor coupled to a motor to drive thecontrol arm wheel.
 14. The system of claim 1, comprising a processorcoupled to a motor to drive the jack control arm from the retractedposition to the extended position.
 15. The system of claim 1, comprisinga processor coupled to a curb sensor to detect car position relative toa curb.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the curb sensor comprises aproximity sensor, a sound-based sensor, a sonar, or a light-basedsensor.
 17. The system of claim 1, comprising: a curb sensor to detectcar position relative to a curb; a motor to drive the control arm fromthe retracted position to the extended position; a motor to drive thecontrol arm wheel to park the vehicle adjacent the curb; a processorreceiving the car position from the curb sensor, the processorcontrolling the motor to move the control arm to the extended position,the processor further controlling the motor to drive the control armwheel and park the vehicle.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein at leastone jack is secured to a vehicle axle.
 19. The system of claim 1,wherein at least one jack is an add-on kit for the vehicle or fabricatedas an integrated unit of a vehicle.
 20. A parking system for a vehiclehaving an axle coupled to vehicle wheels, comprising: a control armhaving a first end with a control arm wheel and a second end mounted tothe axle; and an actuator coupled to the axle and the control arm, theactuator operable between a retracted position permitting the vehicle tobe driven, and an extended position where the wheel contacts the groundto raise the vehicle wheels off the ground to allow the control armwheel to move the vehicle into a parking position.